Charity coyote hunt sparks protests

[Beringia]

By Gabrielle Burkhart
November 17, 2013







ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Another coyote hunt this weekend is sparking controversy. However, this time the organizer says much of the proceeds go to charity to help terminally ill children, while protestors argue a killing contest is no way to raise money. This weekend, at least 34 teams of two are out hunting coyotes for prizes, but there were several people near Central Avenue Saturday speaking out against wildlife killing contests. Protestors stood outside the University of New Mexico campus Saturday, calling wildlife killing contests a blood sport, and hate crimes against animals. "There's other ways to raise money, killing for entertainment is still killing for entertainment, and charity is no excuse to go out and kill as many animals as you can," said Elizabeth Dicharry, contest protestor.

In this case, Dicharry is referring to this weekend's coyote hunt contest, where 34 teams of two will bring back what they kill for cash prizes, and giveaways. However, those sponsoring the hunt said this time its not just a contest. "It is not a blood-sport, like they say," explained Alan Flaig, Manager of Guns and Gold Pawn Shop in Los Lunas. The pawn shop is behind the hunt and Flaig said half of the proceeds go to charity to help the Children's Outdoor Adventure Foundation. "They take children who have cancer, disabilities, they take them out either hunting, fishing, camping, basically whatever their last wish is," Flaig explained. Flaig said the hunt also helps ranchers who have problems with coyotes.

"I don't know why they're going after these contests, they've been going on for years and years and years, it's one way of putting a little bit of control on the coyote," he said. Protestors argue charity or not, the coyote killing contests need to stop. Among the crowd Saturday was Democratic State Representative, Nate Cote, who's trying to legally ban the hunting contests with legislation. "There's no sense to support animal killing contests that go out on public lands and just kill large numbers of coyotes," explained Cote. Flaig argues however, that without contests, coyote hunting continues all year round.

"We're never going to make the coyote extinct, by any means," said Flaig. Despite the protests, Flaig said they've received a lot of support, and the hunt will continue. Flaig said with the amount of people participating, he expects the hunters will come back with maybe 25 kills total.

http://www.krqe.com/news/local/charity-coyote-hunt-sparks-protests




http://www.natecote.com/Cote_PressRelease_1-30-13.html

Jan 30, 2013
Santa Fe, NM - Rep. Nate Cote (D-Doña Ana, Otero-53), has introduced legislation to prohibit animal killing contests. Recent attention has been focused on the promotion of killing animals without regard for public safety or the health of our lands. Citizens of New Mexico have expressed outrage and horror over the senseless killing of animals for prizes and Rep. Cote will not allow those concerns to go unheard.

House Bill 316 will criminalize organizing, causing, sponsoring, arranging or holding an animal-killing contest and apply a civil fine of up to $1000. Subsequent convictions could range up to $5000 and 1 year imprisonment.

HB 316 Actions
Feb 26, 2013 Other failed passage in House
Feb 21, 2013 House DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute
Jan 29, 2013 House Sent to House Judiciary Committee

http://openstates.org/nm/bills/2013/HB316/


https://www.facebook.com/StopGunhawkFirearmsCoyoteKillingContest


Coyote Fact Sheet
http://www.projectcoyote.org/ProjectCoyote_FactSheet_CoyoteNews.pdf